Metal-depositing apparatus.



No. 837,832. PATENTED DEC. 4, 1906.

- v w. A. HENDRIX.

METAL DEPOSITING ABPARATUS. I APPLIOATIOI FILED IAY 18, 1906.

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MWKKOMM' M PATENTE'D DEC. 4, 1906.

w. A. HENDRYX. METAL DEPOSITING APPARATUS APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, 1906.

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, .I 7106x150 a y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILBUR ALSON HENDRYX, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

METAL-DEPOSITING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed May 18, 1906. Serial No. 317,600.

Patented Dec. 4, 1.906.

To aM whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, VVILBUR ALSON Hun- DRYX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal-Depositing Apparatus, of which the following is a specireference is made to the accompanying drawings, whereinsuitable character.

Figure 1' is a plan view of a preferred form of apparatus. F ig. 2 is a vertical central sectionof the same on line II II of Fig. 1.

Similar numerals of. reference indicate similar arts throughout both views T e numeral 1 designates supporting-thritgers upon which are mounted four rollers 2 3,

jpurnaled upon supporting-castings 4 and so spaced as to rotata ly support a cylindrical drum 5, which carries at its inlet end a re movable head 6 and at its outlet end a removable head 7 and a removable perforated sheet or screen 8. Between the outlet-head 7' andthe screen 8 is a rim 9, preferably of wood, spacing said head and screen and .providing a c lindrical space 10. Centrally secured to t e inlet-head 7 is a stuffing-box 11, throu h which passes an inlet solution-pipe 12. imilarly secured to the head 7 is a stuffing-box 13, carrying the outlet solutionpipe 14. These pipes are rigidly secured by clamps 15 16 to timbers 17 18. A pump '20 is shown connected on its discharge side with inlet-pipe 12 by means of a rubber hose-19' and on its suction side b hose 21 with a solution-supply tank 22. he tank 22 may be merely a reservoir for the metal-bearing solutlon, .or it may be a leaching-tank of any The drum 5-is illustrated as constructed of wooden staves secured by hoops or hands 23.

' As clearly shown in Fig. 2, the heads 6 7 and solutions a hardened alloy of lead may be used. v

For cyanid or other, alkaline solutions I prefer to employ an iron or steel drum, and in this case no lining is required. For solutions having a substantial corrosive effect upon iron the drum is preferably lined, as indicated at 30, with a suitable material capable of withstanding the corrosive effect of the solutions and the mechanical abrasio'n due to the precipitating agent. For instance, for acid solutions, such as sulfuric or hydrochloric acids, I preferably use a lining composed of tiling set in cement.

Within 'the drum 5 is placed a divided or granular precipitating agent 24 in sufficient quantitggso :that the solution traversing the drum will bcomplet-ely subjected to its action. This precipitating agent is chosen with reference to the particular metal or metals to be deposited. In depositing copper from its chlorid'or sulfate I preferably use metallic iron or steel scraps or shavings or other suit- .ableforihs offering a veryextended depositing-surface. For cyanid solutions of gold and silver I may. use metallic zinc or'an alloy in shot or pulverulent form. The precipitate ing agent-in these andequivalent forms is hereinafter referred to as granular.

The apertures in the plate or screen 8 should be of such size as to retain the granular depositing material 2;, rr -zile permitting the free passage of the solutions carrying the precipitated metallic values in suspension. The outlet 14 is preferably connected, as by a rubber hose 25, with the lower end of a receptacle 26, containing one or more filters 27 of suitable material and shown as of the inverted-bag type, so arranged that the precipitated values are collected in the lower portion of the tank 26, to be withdrawn through outlet- 29, as desired. The clear. solutions overflow by pipe 28 and are preferably'returned to supply-tank 22 to be again utilized. The

clear solutions, however, may be otherwise dis osed of as desired.

iile I have shown a filter for collecting the metal values, it will be understood that these values .niaybe ermitted to settle and the clear solution decanted therefrom or that they may be otherwise recovered.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The solutions are conveyed either continuo nsl-y'orintermitter tly from the leaching,

or supply tank 22 througiq' the pi ecipitating or mechanical mixture containing the same drum 25 and filter or other separating device tation of the precipitating agent separating them from the surfaces upon which they are deposited and the current of solution conveying them to the collecting vessel 26.

While I have described a 'revoluble drum as the preferred means for maintaining'such agitation of the precipitating agent as will suilice to detach the deposited values therefrom, I may substitute such other means Will accomplish this result. For instance, it is obvious that the same result may be elfected by agitating the precipits-xting agent witlz n a stationary vessel by any suitable means or by imparting a jigging or reciprocatory 'motion to the vessel containing the same.

I claim- 1. Apparatus for depositing metals comprising a receptacle, a solution inlet and outlet therefor, a granular precipitating agent therein, means for agitating said precipitating agent, means for retaining said preci pirat- .ing agent in said receptacle and a collecting device for the precipitate connected with said outlet, substantially as described.

2. Apparatus for depositing metals comprising a receptacle, a solution inlet and outlet therefor, a granular precipitz'tting agent therein, means for agitating said preci ')itating agent, means for retaining said precipitating agent in said receptacle and a iilter connected with said outlet, substantially as described.

3. Apparatus for depositing metals comprising a substantially closed receptacle, a solution inlet and outlet therefor, a precipitating agent in said receptacle, means for retaining said precipitating agent in said receptacle and means for agitating said precipi tating agent, substantially as described.

4. Apparatus for depositing metals comprising a substantially closed receptacle, a

solution inlet and outlet therefor, a precipitating agent in said reeep tacle, means for agitating said precipitating agent means for retaining said precipitating agent in said reeep- 5 tacle and a collecting device for the precipitate connected with said outlet, substantially as described. s

5. Apparatus for depositing metals comprising a revo'luble receptacle, a solution inlet 5 and outlet therefor, a granular precipitating agent tl'1erein, means for agitatlm said precipitating agent, and a collecting evice connected with said outlet, substantially as described. 6

6. Apparatus for depositing metals comprising a substantially closed revoluble receptacle, a solution inlet and outlet therefor, a precipitating agent in said receptacle, means for agitating said precipitating agent, and a 6 collecting device for the precipitate connected with said outlet substantially as described.

7. Apparatus for depositing metals comprising a leaching-tank, a receptacle containing a precipitating agent, means for agitating 7 said precipitating agent, a collecting device, and means for conveying the solution successively through said leaching-tank, receptacle and collecting device, substantially as described. 7,

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WVILBUR ALSON HENDRYX,

Witnesses:

, (Inns. R. Davms,

Tnnononn WELLs. 

